MEMBERSHIP MATTERS
Years ago there was a credit card company commercial that championed the phrase, “Membership Matters”. Now, obviously, it was a catchy phrase to attract more people to acquire that card so that the credit card company could make more money. However, that same phrase is very applicable to the church as well.
When it comes to church, membership does matter, and there are a variety of thoughts and methods for this to happen. However a church decides to structure their membership, choosing to become a member of a local church is an expectation of every Believer of Jesus Christ. The process and the expression of membership may vary, but the bottom line is that each one of us needs to find a local church family that connects with our calling and our beliefs, and then commit ourselves to the vision and mission of that church. In other words, the church family that you’ve been attending goes from a “they & them” to an “we & us.” We are all in this together.
Many of you over the years have taken Class 101, learned all about our mission, vision, and strategy, and have chosen to commit yourselves to ALC in membership. I’ve been so blessed by all of the amazing people that God has brought here who have become a part of the ALC family. God has put us all here so that together we can be a part of what He wants to do here in Sarasota as well as around the world. This is a very big and involved discussion that we'll be working on together in the New Year. But the most important thing we can do is to completely commit ourselves to working together to reach and connect as many people as possible to the life-saving love of Jesus Christ.
BE A GREETER
One of the simplest and immediate things we can all do is to become a Greeter. And by Greeter, I’m not talking about signing up as an official Sunday morning services Greeter and wearing a nametag. What you can do is simply meet and greet people at our gatherings and our services – especially new people. It’s amazing how, ever since we’ve moved into our new auditorium and foyer, God has been bringing new people to our services every Sunday. That is not by accident. We’ve been praying, giving, and building in order to MAKE MORE ROOM for everyone that God wants to bring to us. Well, now He is, and it’s our opportunity to step up and welcome everyone who shows up. Who knows, your welcoming someone new just may be the next step in them coming to Jesus, and you just might make a new friend in the process! So yes, MEMBERSHIP DOES MATTER!
-Pastor Vern
